I enjoy it when the Duchess of Cambridge needs to do a costume change in the middle of a day full of events. It warms my heart and makes me believe that perhaps it doesn’t take a village to bring together all of the buttons, wiglets and eyeliner in all the land to put Kate back together again. Earlier today, Kate did an event at a hospital where she wore that orange Boden coat with ruffles. She did that event, then possibly went home to Kensington Palace – ?? – for a quick change, then she was back out at the Bond Primary School in Mitcham for another event. This event was sporty! She went to see the work of the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative. Kate was made the new patron/honorary president of the All-England Club last year, so this was for one of her big new patronages.
For her second event of the day, Kate repeated a pair of Monreal London tuxedo track pants. We recently saw those track pants last fall, soon after Kate announced her third pregnancy. They are expensive – £220 – but she’s getting multiple appearances out of them and hey, I will take these track pants over jeggings ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. She also repeated a pair of Nike Air Vapor sneakers. The jacket seems to be new-to-us, as in this is the first time (?) she’s worn it for an event. It’s the Sophia jacket from PlayBrave, and it costs £89. I live in this kind of casualwear/sportswear and I would totally wear this outfit, but not at this price tag. You can get that same jacket cheaper at a million other shops. Same thing with the pants.
I think she should also get in the habit of doing a ponytail for these sporty events, just FYI. But I know I’m nitpicking there. I’m actually a bit pleased that Kate is so very keen to work right now. My cynical side believes that she’s accumulating a lot of royal-work numbers right now because she’s going to want to take a ton of time off for her maternity leave later this year.
One other nice thing I’ll say about her… she’s doing better about giving the cameras some better photos. By that I mean, look, she’s facing the cameras instead of creating a veil of wiglet to hide her face. I was just complaining about that last week, right? That’s the thing with her – she’ll learn a lesson, then she’ll backslide and make the same mistakes, then she’ll have to learn the lesson again.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
She is barely showing, woah
If I didn’t know she was pregnant, I would have never guess
Me either – she looks great.
Maybe some of Meghan’s natural ease in front of cameras will rub off onto Duchess Kate.
Maybe some of Kate’s decency and royal style will rub off onto Meg. It will not be easy, after years and years of trying to be a ‘celebrity’.
Decency ?????
LOL. I don’t know about the decency bit, I don’t think any of us are in a position to know who these people really are, but there is something refreshing about someone who doesn’t so nakedly enjoy and crave attention and the limelight. At least it wasn’t THAT.
“Decency and royal style?” Please elaborate. Especially on the decency part!
ETA: Kate enjoys the limelight, alright, as long as she’s at a movie premiere or a sporting event. It’s the “boring” work stuff in which she doesn’t seem to be seeking out attention, and that’s because she’s generally trying to get in and out as quickly as possible.
Hopefully this “decency “and “royal style” don’t include endlessly flashing one’s bum in public. Can you imagine the headlines if Meghan did that?
Who knew that being a working actress meant a person would automatically be devoid of “decency and royal style”. Thank you for your enlightening comment.
Decency?? WTF does THAT mean??
If your idea of decency and royal style is flashing your bum multiple times,naked sunbathing pictures,living in coat dresses and tight jeggings all the time then i’ll rather Meghan be indecent and lacking in style
Yeah, No!
‘Kate’s decency’ – i guess if you call flashing your ass and biscuit on several occasions the the waiting press while on official duties decent then maybe Megs shouldn’t.
Decency? Lol…
Royal style?
It’s comments like this that have me hoping that Meghan and Kate end up being the best of friends.
Talk about craving attention. Let’s all feed this hungry soul. “Decency?! OMG! How could you say such a thing?! You’re such a hater!” Is that enough attention, Bianca?
Whew that is a mean comment.
This reminds me a lot of the people who praise Melania for bringing “class back into the white house.” We all know what they mean.
IMO Meghan has looked pretty and happy in her appearances, but I don’t know about “natural ease.” I almost thought she would be more poised. It’s got to be daunting, even for an actress.
Agree. She has looked somewhat nervous in her few public engagements.
Yep. She shouldn’t take note anything from Meghan. She looked so lost and uneasy when she first joined them outside the church – Kate easily outshone her just by standing and smiling next to her which bugged people since Meghan supposed to easily outshine Kate since she’s a tv starlet.
She’s looked quite poised to me in all her appearances – though I’d say Nottingham was her best. The Xmas walk was the only time I’ve seen her look even a little bit nervous, but I wouldn’t say either woman outshone the other. They both looked great to me. I think they could learn a lot from each other and I do hope they’ll rise above the one-upsmanship that so many royal observers seem to delight in…
@Lobbit…she I would say Nottingham has been her best outing so far, she was simply radiant!
I notice that @Bianca has declined to respond, she has probably scuttled back to her DM friends.
I think she’s been looking a lot happier lately, and it shows in the way she meets, greets, and interacts with people. She seems to be in a groove right now, and yes, it could be ratcheting up the numbers to take the summer off, but for whatever the reason, good for her to be out there, looking like she’s enjoying herself 😊
She definitely seems to be happier and not as stiff in public. I think the engagement has taken some if the scrutiny away from her and she knows it. I hope the women will grow closer since very few of us have any idea what that pressure would feel like.
That’s what I’ve been thinking too. I think Kate is happy to have another young woman in the fold so she’s not the main focus for all things hair and clothes.
I remember how happy and lighthearted Will and Kate were at the 2012 London Olympics and think that might be their true personality. They were quite playful and affectionate too.
It will hurt my feelings if they aren’t friends. lol
They are my gossip escape!
BFF photos would be happymakers.
Where’s Wills? Kate is sporty spice for sure
Wow, she hardly looks pregnant at all…
I think she looks good here. I would wear this in a heartbeat, especially the pants., but in a less expensive version.
To address some past comments about the Duchess not looking into the camera at events….Royals are not supposed to “ham” for the cameras. Just though you lot would like to know, in case this observation pops up again.
Didn’t Diana ham for the cameras most of the time?
@ Citresse just a lot – see THAT interview and the posing at the Taj Mahal!
@Citresse – just a lot – see THAT interview and the posing in front of the Taj Mahal – eyes to the full.
sorry about the double post – the first disappeared so I did it again!?
Yes. I told the story about how she prepared to be photographed.
She was ALWAYS aware of the cameras and ALWAYS had something she wanted to convey with her poses and choices.
The person said she just behaved normally and then it was like she was on and she became the beloved Diana. Her eyes would widen, and she would do that slight smile and tiny little hunch sometimes to look modest and humble. It was like one two three, and then Princess Diana was on stage. She would look down before looking up, and it was like a dramatic moment was about to happen.
A person would be a fool not to recognize the value of a snapshot.
I think Diana was naturally photogenic. I believe it’s a natural quality some people have (either that, or she learned from having so many photos taken of her by her father). I always look super-weird in photos, so I’m inclined to think she had a certain gift. But I also think she performed for the camera in a way that was different from the way a celebrity does it. It was like she knew how to give a good photo without being obvious about it. She still seemed to have a certain reserve about her. Like, I don’t think you’d have ever seen her posing from the side with her back thrust out the way celebrities of the Kardashian variety do their posing.
To be honest, though, I think Diana was on a whole other level of being photogenic. I don’t think even movie stars could seem interesting in a photo the way she was. And I think it’s something she knew how to do without being trained. So comparing her to Kate seems weird to me because even movie stars seemed kind of lame next to Diana. Even when you look at photos of her with other movie stars, the eye gets drawn to her, not the movie star in the photo. There’s one where she’s standing opposite Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, and your eye go to her, not Cruise and Kidman (who is beautiful and mega-tall herself).
Nobody is asking her to ham it up. We want her to acknowledge the media, the same way the Queen, Charles & Camilla do. That ensures the photographers get good images which are then used in the press to publicise the event/charity that has been visited. That is, after all, the purpose of a royal visit. To bring attention to charities & events.
It’s basic good manners, more than anything else.
Charles, Camilla, Sophie and the Queen manage to pause at their events for photos. They don’t ham it up but they also don’t run by the press like Will and Kate so often do. I think Kate takes some her cues from Will so I can see her being better about it on her own.
No one ever said she should ham it up. She should acknowledge them. There’s a difference and you must know that.
So what do you call all the faces, grins, hair fussing and arm clinging that Megan goes through?
I’m just as cynical as you Kaiser. It’s just to get the numbers up before her maternity leave, which’ll last all summer, then back for the end of the year, where theres always a rush with the Cambs to get their numbers up. This years pretty much a write off as far as her workload is concerned.
I think it’s fine if she wants to take a lot of maternity time. Several European and Scandinavian nations give 6-9 months off paid maternity time.
100% on board with this
Yes, and at the same time her “job” is showing up at events for an hour at most a couple times a week. It’s not a 9-5, 5 days a week job like most women who get maternity leave. PLUS, Kate lives off of the taxpayer money.
I agree: I hope she DOES take time off to enjoy and bond with a third child and regain her strength. I’m appalled that because she’s royal and THE TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR HER LIFE that means she had better not take time off. AFTER ALL, APPEARANCES AREN’T EVEN DIFFICULT! (Never mind that she’s constantly scrutinized and criticized, so she’d better be on best behavior at every single event, or it’ll be a first page photo seen round the world.) . I hope she does take some time off; I would have if I could have afforded to, and I don’t begrudge that for any woman!
She needs to work full time before needing time off.
That being said it is the precious time for Mama and baby in the early days and weeks. I loved discovering this new little person and being able to be in protective bonding mode. I can’t begrudge any new mother that and I wish the world would respect it for all women. You shouldn’t have to be rich or royal to get that special time and to rest as much as possible.
I feel so sorry for new mothers who have to rush to work. They always look miserable and like if you said the wrong thing they just might cry. They have no time to adjust their lives or their new body. Or for their hormones to balance out again.
It is something I want to be addressed in the next presidential election. For adoptive parents, foster parents and caregivers. They need the time too. Spouses and partners could use a couple of weeks also.
Anyway, I am glad to see her working.
I really very much want Kate, William and Harry to do much more work. That said, I have no problem at all with her taking time off to bond with her baby. No criticism of Kate’s 2018 numbers from me. It’s William I have a problem with.
What’s the maternity leave in the U.S.? In Canada it’s one year. I agree that it’s better to have that time off with baby, especially if you are nursing, but even if you aren’t, you want to be there for the first smile, the first steps. And with broken nights, you really need the time off.
Maria if you get maternity leave, I didn’t for my two kids. Some people get paid leave for 6-12 weeks depending on the company and if you are full time or salary.
If you are hourly or part time you don’t get any paid leave.
@Maria, in the US we are only entitled to six weeks of unpaid maternity leave, and that is only if the company/organization you work for has 50 or more employees. Some companies offer paid maternity leave and more time than that. But the vast majority of people only get six weeks unpaid. It is very, very sad. Most hourly workers can not afford to lose out on the pay, so they end up going back to work as soon as possible.
The engagement ring! She didn’t wear it earlier today. According to WKW it’s because of the hospital’s minimal jewelry policy.
Kate was required to remove it for the hospital visit.
That must be a first for her. She loves to show off her ring.
“Show off her ring” ??? What does that mean? Do you mean any woman who wears her engagement ring on a daily basis is showing it off? Last I checked, I wear my engagement ring 24/7 because my husband gave it to me when he asked me to marry me and it has great significance. I’m not trying to “show it off.”
Really, I am so glad I did not have to learn how to be royal in front of the entire world. Sometimes the criticism is beyond petty.
Why wouldn’t she show off her ring? It’s her engagement ring.
I just don’t like the karma of that ring, coming from a broken marriage, especially THAT broken marriage. But Kate obviously doesn’t mind.
Other Renee, you took the words out of my mouth. So just by wearing her ring she is “loving” “showing it off”? Um, ok. That makes so much sense. She’s not just wearing her ring, she’s “showing it off.” Sure.
@Other Renee, IKR??!!! Only Kate Middleton would be criticized here for “showing off” a six-carat sapphire with two carats in diamonds that couldn’t be hidden if she tried except under gloves and, moreover, belonged to her globally idolized dead mother-in-law! All she has to do is wear it for it to be unmissable, and after all, the hubby proposed with it! What is she supposed to do? Hide it?! Meanwhile, just as Meghan Markle passed the crowds of paps as she left the Christmas lunch at Sandringham, she carefully put her left hand up to brush her hair back at just that moment. I didn’t hear accusations of “showing off her ring” except from one sharp-eyed commenter here.
I didn’t say there was anything wrong with showing off her ring. I just said she likes to do it. Is showing off a bad word all of a sudden?
Maria, “showing off” has a certain tone to it. And I’m quite sure you are aware of that. When someone is told they are “showing off,” it is never a compliment in any way. It is always negative. Being a “show off” is not considered a good quality at all.
The ring simply existing on her finger is not showing off. Am I showing off my own wedding set just because I wear it every day and don’t keep my hand in my pocket? Same thing. Literally no difference at all. I have a nice big sparkler, too–but my simply wearing it in my daily life is not showing off.
Both ladies love to do it. Women do it all the time.
Geesh, calm down. It isn’t a crime.
Seriously.
Harry and Meghan are going to be in Wales tomorrow (Thursday) so go figure. They will be all over the Daily Fail.
How do you think she gets so skinny after each pregnancy? Usually women can retain a few pounds. As I got older liked a more curvier me. It seems she goes right back rather quickly. I guess she works out a lot?
The same way actresses and other rich women do: they can set their own schedule, have nannies, aren’t up all night for three months, have private trainers and gyms and nutritionists. The best of everything and lots of help is great for regaining your pre-baby figure.
Also genetics, frankly.
I think she does work out a lot, but also honestly, I believe a lot of it is she got very lucky in the gene department. Some women bounce back quickly, some don’t. I have a friend who has had 4 kids in the last ten years and each time she looked just as thin as she did in college immediately afterwards. Just blessed with good genes–and I say that because of how in Kate’s case how non-swollen her ankles looked when she appeared on the steps after giving birth. That has nothing to do with working out–that’s just lucky as hell as far as I am concerned.
I don’t think it genetics its working out and dieting.
Agree with Erica I’ve heard what her diet is like. I still am amazed she can follow it
Erica
Genetics do play a role. They absolutely do.
She also gains very little due to being ill. And genetics. I know women that worked out the entire time and did not snap back like they thought. Just depends
Wait, what? Women that gain little during pregnancy are sick? Your statement holds if women gain weight by an amount more noticeable than a belly. And that is not the case. Otherwise you’d have to apply that statement to Giselle among others that follow strict diets, exercises, and have similar builds.
Kate’s 1st pregnancy was the worst. 2nd… much easier. 3rd. She’s handling it like a pro. As is her body.
Because she’s heavily photographed and we see while pregnant she can handle activity involving various motions and scents and foods.
This woman has had Zero issues gaining weight. She never carries big. And she appears to only look pregnant in a more commercial or fuller sense when in her 8th month.
Kate is not small because she’s had morning sickness. She’s carrying how she carries. She watches what she eats. She exercises. She has a long torso.
Now, a celeb that has had issues gaining weight while pregnant. Kate Hudson. Kate has healthy pregnancies with a few weeks of nausea. Which is a great thing.
After I had my son I was quickly back down to being very small and thin. That’s just my frame. I wasn’t working out excessively or dieting. Actually, I was working out less than ever because the baby took up all of my time. I’m naturally slim and I can’t help that fact (and all of the “Wow, how did you lose the baby weight so fast?” questions got obnoxious really fast). That’s it. I’m pretty sure those are her particular genetics at work.
Genetics and exercise. If you have been very fit before pregnancy and maintained training and genetically you aren’t programmed to gain and not bounce back, it happens. My mother had more than the average number of children, and her body bounced back every time. But she had been a serious dancer and runner. One of my sisters did not inherit the gene and remains 20 pounds heavier after her last child. She doesn’t care though because she loves to eat and hates to workout. Three times a week is all she will commit to exercise so she said Screw it this is me I am happy and yes I will have another glass of wine!
Kate’s job is in the public so she has more incentive than the ordinary woman does so I don’t think she should be looked at as an example. She can hire a trainer to come every day to help her along and a chef to prepare healthy meals with high-quality ingredients. She isn’t skipping sleep, and she isn’t managing a home or her other children.
Any woman deserves maternity leave, I can’t believe this is something you criticize. In European countries mothers usually get 1 or 2 years paid maternity leave (partial salary) and we shouldn’t be considered lazy for taking time off to nurse and raise our babies. I thought this site supports women’s rights.
No one is criticizing maternity leave for women. They are criticizing someone whose entire life is a permanent one on the taxpayers dime.
That’s a rubbish excuse. Her whole life is not a maternity leave.
She gets to take a year under English law for each child. Many of my colleagues who are serious hard working career woman take a full year. It is not, and should not be, criticized or side eyed. It may not be the case in the US, but it is here.
You can make all the comments you want about how hard she works outside of her pregnancies and/or maternity leave, but a suggestion that she should or is working hard to justify her maternity leave is frankly disgusting. No woman should be required to work harder in advance to justify maternity leave, or have to justify it at all. It is a woman’s right whether royal or not.
You need to work a certain amount of hours in the year prior to taking the leave to actually qualify for it. Kate would never qualify even if what she did was consider a job as she doesn’t have the hours. No one begrudges bonding time with a baby but you can’t be on maternity leave when you were never working in the first place.
I think we do all support maternity leave. But most women work more than a few (very non-taxing) hours a month.
Every woman does deserve maternity leave. However, Kate’s life is already a giant form of “leave” she doesn’t work. While she gets to bond with the baby she will have a nanny there. None of the royals work and always have nannies. They don’t govern or make laws. They show up, grin, wave, leave. Rinse and repeat. Kate hardly does that. Her numbers last year showed that. The criticism of her is fair. She was given a lot of time to step into royalty. Say what you want about Sophia of Sweden, she may have a very shady past, but she stepped up to the plate when it comes to royal work.
I’m completely on board for her taking a long maternity leave. But she doesn’t exactly work hard the rest of the time.
Only certain women, lol.
So every time she doesn’t appear she is lazy Kate and every time she does appear it is because of H&M?
It’s always slightly shocking to me how small she is when she’s pregnant. There is barely a bump at all. And I know it’s been that way through all of her pregnancies. She is tall so I know that plays a part but I think her being so thin plays a bigger part.
Yes me too and then Kate’s babies were born over 8lbs, it like, where did she hide it?
I’m almost 6 feet tall AND I had HG, and I still looked like a truck lol. Gained 60 pounds with each kid.
It kills me when she wears her posh hanging earrings and ginormous engagement ring even when she’s in sports gear. It all looks so out of place and fake. “Hi fellow humans, I’m just like you, I promise!” *lizard eyes*
Why is it cynical to think someone is trying to get work in now in order to have a long maternity leave? Women are always complaining about how short maternity leaves are in the US.
Kate looks like a lady, not like the prettiest girl in the pub. Meghan should take style notes from someone familiar with royalty and British mentalities, not from that Canadian socialite and Victoria Beckam – remember this article?: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-5170357/Meghan-Markle-Victoria-Beckham-close-friends.html
Lol, hopefully Meghan won’t take notes from Kate on style. We really don’t need to see her dress flying up showing her goodies too. Or wearing bright colors to a memorial sight. Plus the grandma clothes that ages her like 5 years. If meghan wants to look like a lady then maybe look at Victoria Or Madeline from Sweden. Then the royal ladies from Spain and Denmark.
I dont think meghan needs any style tips from kate.Also i remember Kate wearing some black boots Victoria beckham gifted her to an event with lupo.I think meghan is dressing the way she always has and she know what she likes .
Bianca
It’s ok. We are all very bitter MM took the ginger prince off the market. You don’t need to spray vitriol and attack her for it. Or glorify Kate to bring another woman down. That says more about you than you’d think it does.
But really. You don’t want to say Kate’s style is better than MM. Few reasons. 1 has significant more time being royal and royal adjacent. More assistance shopping and funds to cloth herself. And Kate has only recently stopped flashing her private areas to huge crowds, cameras, and children.
Thank you for saying it. It is weird to take it all so personally.
It’s so nice to see celebrities dress comfortably I wish it was more common. I want to look good but also practical
I think she’s always happier when she’s not in a dress and pumps. Who could blame her?
I have a similar pair of track pants, and if I could get away with it, I would live in them forever. I think this is who she is. She is sporty and wears sporty looks very well.
I need to send KP a note. I think they listen to me. LOL!
This site is poison against Kate. That woman can not catch a break from the other women
This x’s 100000
Really? When the comment 3 above yours says “Kate looks like a lady, not like the prettiest girl in the pub”? I have no time for criticism of Kate’s wrinkles, weight or even her wiglets (since we’re not allowed to have fun anymore). But any praise of Kate, both here and elsewhere, is often rooted in an implicit criticism of Meghan. “Ladylike?” “Decency?” Why on earth should Meghan be lacking either of those things?
Well said Tina.
She looks ill. Poor thing.
She and I are about the same number of weeks in our pregnancies. I’m short and 8 or 9 years older than she is (this is my second) and all I got is that I’m jealous of how little she’s showing. I feel like an elephant at 26 weeks and she looks willowy and graceful. I do think she seems more at ease in sporty clothes.
There’s a photo of her in the DM in these clothes taken more side on and she looks a lot more pregnant with quite a big, definite bump.